Beersel is perhaps best known for the "Kasteel van Beersel" ("Beersel Castle), built between 1300 and 1310 by Jan II, the Duke of Brabant, as a defense for "Brussels. "Guillaume Dufay (1397–1474), the most famous European composer of the 15th century, was most likely born in Beersel.

Beersel is known for its boterham met plattekaas en radijzen (sandwich with white cheese and radishes), usually served with a "geuze beer, and for its mandjeskaas (literally 'basket cheese'), which is a white cheese stored in little baskets. Beersel also has two traditional, authentic "geuze breweries, "Oud Beersel and "3 Fonteinen.